Nokia taps into China Mobile gold mine with Lumia 920T
It's looking to foster growth and interest in Windows Phone in China, one of its most important markets.
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Nokia said today that it would launch a variant of its flagship smartphone, the
The Lumia 920T will be the first Windows Phone to run on China Mobile's TD-SCDMA network. The phone is expected to hit the market by the end of the year and sell for 4,599 yuan (about $740).
This latest Nokia phone is important because it should allow the company to tap into China Mobile's more than 700 million customers -- the largest subscriber base in the world. China is an increasingly important market as Nokia hopes to regain its footing in the smartphone market.
The announcement comes after Nokia unveiled the low-end Lumia 620 earlier today.
The Lumia 920T is largely a clone of the Lumia 920. It boasts many of the same features, including the PureView camera with "floating lens technology," a super-sensitive display, and wireless charging capabilities.
Nokia also struck a partnership with Air China to put wireless charging stations at the airline's Beijing Airport VIP lounges, and struck a deal with retailer Jiepang to deliver deals at several outlets through the use of NFC (near-field communication) technology. Nokia has been working to get more wireless charging stations at retailers, including Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the U.S.
In addition, the company launched the Nokia Experience and Innovation Center in an effort to support local developers and entrepreneurs looking to develop applications and drive interest in the Windows Phone platform.
"People around the world are responding positively to the new Lumia devices, and we're confident that the enthusiasm will extend to China with the Lumia 920T," Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said in a statement.
